The Essential James Taylor

~ Release by James Taylor (see all versions of this release, 6 available)

Tracklist

1▼CD
#TitleRatingLength
1Sweet Baby James
engineer:
Bill Lazerus (in 1969-12)
producer:
Peter Asher (in 1969-12)
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist) (in 1969-12)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Russ Kunkel (session drummer) (in 1969-12)
electric bass guitar:
John London (in 1969-12)
pedal steel guitar:
Red Rhodes (in 1969-12)
piano:
Carole King (in 1969-12)
violin:
Chris Darrow (US country rock multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter) (in 1969-12)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Warner Records Inc. (not for release label use; fka Warner Bros. Records Inc. until 2019) (in 1970)
recorded at:
Sunset Sound in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (in 1969-12)
recording of:
Sweet Baby James (in 1969-12)
lyricist and composer:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
publisher:
Country Road Music, Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated)
3.52:51
2Fire and Rain
engineer:
Bill Lazerus (in 1969-12)
producer:
Peter Asher (in 1969-12)
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist) (in 1969-12)
double bass:
Bobby ‘Wild, Wild’ West (in 1969-12)
drums (drum set):
Russ Kunkel (session drummer) (in 1969-12)
piano:
Carole King (in 1969-12)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Warner Bros. Records Inc. (not for release label use, company behind the “WB Records” imprint) (in 1969)
recorded at:
Sunset Sound in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (in 1969-12)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 146) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 227)
recording of:
Fire and Rain (in 1969-12)
lyricist and composer:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
publisher:
Country Road Music, Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated) (ended), EMI Blackwood Music Inc. and フジパシフィックミュージック SBK事業部 (Fujipacific Music SBK Department)
4.33:23
3Long Ago and Far Away
engineer:
Richard Sanford Orshoff
producer:
Peter Asher
acoustic guitar:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
bass guitar:
Leland Sklar (bassist, session musician)
congas:
Danny Kortchmar (Danny Kootch)
drums (drum set):
Russ Kunkel (session drummer)
piano:
Carole King
background vocals:
Joni Mitchell and James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
recording of:
Long Ago and Far Away (James Taylor song)
lyricist and composer:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
publisher:
Country Road Music, Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated)
32:21
4You’ve Got a Friend
engineer:
Richard Sanford Orshoff
producer:
Peter Asher
acoustic guitar:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
acoustic guitar and congas:
Danny Kortchmar (Danny Kootch)
bass guitar:
Leland Sklar (bassist, session musician)
cabasa, congas and drums (drum set):
Russ Kunkel (session drummer)
background vocals:
Joni Mitchell and James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
cover recording of:
You’ve Got a Friend
lyricist and composer:
Carole King
publisher:
Colgems-EMI Music Inc. and Screen Gems–EMI Music Ltd.
sub-publisher:
イーエムアイ音楽出版 フジパシフィック事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan, Fujipacific Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
4.44:29
5Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
producer:
Peter Asher
mixer:
Robert Appère
recording of:
Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
lyricist and composer:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
publisher:
Country Road Music, Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated), EMI April Music Inc. and EMI Blackwood Music Inc.
52:35
6Walking Man
engineer and mixer:
Harry Maslin
producer:
David Spinozza
acoustic guitar and background vocals:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
bass:
Andy Muson
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Rick Marotta (US drummer/percussionist)
electric guitar:
David Spinozza
electric piano:
Kenny Ascher
percussion:
Ralph MacDonald
strings:
Gene Orloff
concertmaster:
Gene Orloff
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Warner Bros. Records Inc. (not for release label use, company behind the “WB Records” imprint) (in 1974)
mixed at and engineered at:
The Hit Factory in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States (from 1974-01 until 1974-04)
recording of:
Walking Man (James Taylor song)
lyricist and composer:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
publisher:
Country Road Music, Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated) (in 1974)
4.53:33
7How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)
engineer and mixer:
Lee Herschberg
producer:
Russ Titelman and Lenny Waronker
bass:
Lee Sklar (bassist, session musician)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Jim Keltner and Russ Kunkel (session drummer)
electric guitar:
Danny Kortchmar (Danny Kootch)
piano and Rhodes piano [Fender Rhodes]:
Clarence McDonald
tambourine:
Russ Kunkel (session drummer)
background vocals [vocal harmonies]:
Carly Simon
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Warner Bros. Records Inc. (not for release label use, company behind the “WB Records” imprint) (in 1975)
mixed at:
Warner Bros. Recording Studios (North Hollywood, a/k/a Amigo Studios) in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
cover recording of:
How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved by You)
lyricist:
Eddie Holland (Motown songwriter, lyricist of Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team)
composer:
Lamont Dozier and Brian Holland (Motown producer & songwriter)
publisher:
ABKCO Music, Inc. (this is a music publisher; for release labels, please use “ABKCO”), EMI Music Publishing Ltd. (PRS‐affiliated), Stone Agate Music, Stone Agate Music Division and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング フジパシフィック事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., Fujipacific Division)
3.83:35
8Mexico
engineer and mixer:
Lee Herschberg
producer:
Russ Titelman and Lenny Waronker
acoustic guitar:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
bass:
Lee Sklar (bassist, session musician)
drums (drum set) [drums] and shakers:
Russ Kunkel (session drummer)
electric guitar:
Danny Kortchmar (Danny Kootch) and James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
harp:
Gayle Levant (American studio musician, harpist)
percussion:
Milt Holland
background vocals [vocal harmonies]:
David Crosby and Graham Nash
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Warner Bros. Records Inc. (not for release label use, company behind the “WB Records” imprint) (in 1975)
mixed at:
Warner Bros. Recording Studios (North Hollywood, a/k/a Amigo Studios) in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
recording of:
Mexico
lyricist and composer:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
publisher:
Country Road Music, Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated)
4.52:59
9Shower the People
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
bass guitar:
Leland Sklar (bassist, session musician)
drums (drum set) and percussion:
Russ Kunkel (session drummer)
instruments:
Clarence McDonald
organ:
Nick de Caro
Rhodes piano:
Clarence McDonald
tubular bells and vibraphone:
Victor Feldman (jazz musician)
background vocals:
Carly Simon and James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
conductor:
Nick de Caro
strings arranger:
Nick de Caro
recording of:
Shower the People
lyricist and composer:
James Vernon Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
publisher:
Country Road Music, Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated)
54:32
10Steamroller (live)
engineer:
Lee Herschberg (in 1975-08)
producer:
Peter Asher (in 1975-08), Russ Titelman (in 1975-08) and Lenny Waronker (in 1975-08)
mixer:
Val Garay
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist) (on 1975-08-02)
drums (drum set):
Russ Kunkel (session drummer) (on 1975-08-02)
electric bass guitar:
Lee Sklar (bassist, session musician) (on 1975-08-02)
electric guitar:
Danny Kortchmar (Danny Kootch) (on 1975-08-02)
piano:
Clarence McDonald (on 1975-08-02)
recorded at:
Universal Amphitheatre in Universal City, California, United States (on 1975-08-02)
mixed at:
Sound Factory (1969–1980) in Los Angeles, California, United States
live recording of:
Steamroller (aka Steamroller Blues) (on 1975-08-02)
lyricist and composer:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
publisher:
EMI Blackwood Music Inc.
5:19
11Something in the Way She Moves
engineer:
Val Garay (in 1976-10)
producer:
Peter Asher (in 1976-10)
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist) (in 1976-10)
electric bass guitar:
Lee Sklar (bassist, session musician) (in 1976-10)
pedal steel guitar:
Dan Dugmore (in 1976-10)
background vocals:
Herb Pedersen (in 1976-10) and James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist) (in 1976-10)
recorded at:
Sound Factory (1969–1980) in Los Angeles, California, United States (in 1976-10)
recording of:
Something in the Way She Moves (in 1976-10)
lyricist and composer:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
publisher:
Country Road Music, Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated) and EMI Blackwood Music Inc.
33:10
12Carolina in My Mind
engineer:
Val Garay (in 1976-10)
producer:
Peter Asher (in 1976-10)
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist) (in 1976-10)
electric bass guitar:
Lee Sklar (bassist, session musician) (in 1976-10)
fiddle:
Byron Berline (in 1976-10)
pedal steel guitar:
Dan Dugmore (in 1976-10)
reed organ [harmonium] and background vocals:
Andrew Gold (in 1976-10)
recorded at:
Sound Factory (1969–1980) in Los Angeles, California, United States (in 1976-10)
recording of:
Carolina in My Mind (in 1976-10)
lyricist and composer:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
publisher:
Country Road Music, Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated) and EMI Blackwood Music Inc.
53:59
13Handy Man
recording engineer and mixer:
Val Garay
producer:
Peter Asher
acoustic guitar and lead vocals:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
bass guitar:
Leland Sklar (bassist, session musician)
cabasa and tambourine:
Peter Asher
drums (drum set) and percussion:
Russell Kunkel (session drummer)
guitar [guitars]:
Danny Kortchmar (Danny Kootch)
keyboard:
Dr. Clarence McDonald
background vocals:
Leah Kunkel and James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
CBS, Inc. (US broadcasting company; file no releases here!) (in 1977)
recorded at and mixed at:
The Sound Factory (1969–1980) in Los Angeles, California, United States (from 1977-03-15 until 1977-04-24)
cover recording of:
Handy Man
writer:
Otis Blackwell (American pianist, singer and songwriter) and Jimmy Jones (writer of “Good Timin’” and “Handy Man”)
publisher:
Bess Music Company, EMI Unart Catalog Inc., Metric Music Company (publisher), Shalimar Music Corp., フジパシフィックミュージック SBK事業部 (Fujipacific Music SBK Department) and ヤマハミュージックエンタテインメントホールディングス (Yamaha Music Entertainment Holdings, Inc., holding company – do not use as release label)
4.653:16
14Your Smiling Face
recording engineer and mixer:
Val Garay
producer:
Peter Asher
acoustic guitar, background vocals and lead vocals:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
bass guitar:
Leland Sklar (bassist, session musician)
drums (drum set) and percussion:
Russell Kunkel (session drummer)
guitar [guitars]:
Danny Kortchmar (Danny Kootch)
keyboard:
Dr. Clarence McDonald
conductor:
David Campbell (US‐based Canadian violinist, composer, conductor and arranger)
strings arranger:
David Campbell (US‐based Canadian violinist, composer, conductor and arranger)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
CBS Records Inc. (for rights/distribution/manufacture use only; international subsidiary of CBS, Inc.) (in 1977) and CBS, Inc. (US broadcasting company; file no releases here!) (in 1977)
recorded at and mixed at:
The Sound Factory (1969–1980) in Los Angeles, California, United States (from 1977-03-15 until 1977-04-24)
recording of:
Your Smiling Face
lyricist and composer:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
publisher:
Country Road Music, Inc. (ASCAP-affiliated), イーエムアイ音楽出版 ソニー事業部 (EMI Music Publishing Japan Ltd., Sony Division) (until 2021-06-30) and ソニー・ミュージックパブリッシング EMI外国事業部 (Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc., EMI Overseas Division, sub‐publisher for non‐Japanese works) (from 2021-07-01 to present)
4.652:45
15Honey Don’t Leave L.A.
recording engineer and mixer:
Val Garay
producer:
Peter Asher
acoustic guitar, background vocals and lead vocals:
James Taylor (singer-songwriter and guitarist)
bass guitar:
Leland Sklar (bassist, session musician)
cowbell:
Peter Asher
drums (drum set) and percussion:
Russell Kunkel (session drummer)
guitar [guitars]:
Danny Kortchmar (Danny Kootch)
keyboard:
Dr. Clarence McDonald
saxophone:
David Sanborn
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
CBS, Inc. (US broadcasting company; file no releases here!) (in 1977)
recorded at and mixed at:
The Sound Factory (1969–1980) in Los Angeles, California, United States (from 1977-03-15 until 1977-04-24)
recording of:
Honey Don’t Leave L.A.
lyricist and composer:
Danny Kortchmar (Danny Kootch)
publisher:
Sony Music Publishing (Japan) Inc. (song publisher, never a release label) and Umlaut Corporation
43:04
2▶CD